Jojo's short interview from the most recent (April) volume of the free paper SEVEN (vol. 30) is up! Check it out in the Articles section.
The other members also have similar short interviews -- we hope to publish those in the future, too!
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Articles Update!
Though we have an awful lot of lyrics left to get through, the articles posts actually call for a lot less code -- meaning I was able to get the articles page and all its completed contents back online tonight!:
http://www.kuroi-ondori.com/p/articles.html
These are the old articles we already had online before the move, and doesn't, unfortunately, include anything new, though we've been working on several newer interviews. The band is just getting so many interviews lately that we've had a hard time keeping up or finishing translation projects!
Lyrics will most likely come before completed interviews, but feel free to continue commenting with requests for anything you're interested in seeing. I'm working through requests, but I do have a pretty busy life and am running this site almost solo now (my co-mod is even busier than I am!).
Requests may take some time to fill, but I will get to them!
Thanks for all the kind comments so far, and thanks for visiting!
http://www.kuroi-ondori.com/p/articles.html
These are the old articles we already had online before the move, and doesn't, unfortunately, include anything new, though we've been working on several newer interviews. The band is just getting so many interviews lately that we've had a hard time keeping up or finishing translation projects!
Lyrics will most likely come before completed interviews, but feel free to continue commenting with requests for anything you're interested in seeing. I'm working through requests, but I do have a pretty busy life and am running this site almost solo now (my co-mod is even busier than I am!).
Requests may take some time to fill, but I will get to them!
Thanks for all the kind comments so far, and thanks for visiting!
Friday, April 1, 2016
Personal Interview - Jojo - SEVEN April 2016
Translated by Ku
—Please give us commentary for one song from the new full album, "DIAVOLO," released on March 2nd.
"Inma -BELPHEGOR-," in both lyrics and music, is a condensed version of THE GALLO's worldview. Regarding the lyrical content, I'm proud that it's a showpiece that gathers together the flow from "Muma -INCUBUS-" and "Muma -SUCCUBUS-." I'd like it if you would regard it as heresy to love songs.
—Please tell us about something to look for, a story, a scene you're particular about, or something that happened during the shooting of the MVs that were recorded at the same time* -- "Douma -BELIAL-" and "Inma -BELPHEGOR-."
"Douma -BELIAL-": I will sing my last song from the gallows for you, my beloved.
"Inma -BELPHEGOR-": The bedroom in the middle of the night is a utopia and the bed on a moonless night is an amusement park.**
* These were not actually recorded at the same time, as evidenced by the change in members' hair colors and styles. This is the interviewer's mistake, not a translation mistake.
** Both of his answers are lyrics from the respective o
—What is something to look out for at THE GALLO's lives?
Welcome to the foreign brothel, "The Black World."
—Please let us hear about a performance that left an impression on you from the sponsored [tour], "Kyokutou Kuro Shakai Rengou Daisensou," or your thoughts on it.
The bonds of solidarity between [us and] the assisting bands and audiences were an inspiration.
—Please recommend one song for those who haven't heard THE GALLO['s music].
"Muma -INCUBUS" → "DIAVOLO"
—Please tell about the main point of your current clothes and hair/makeup.
For clothes, the overall theme is a glittering surplice over complete blackness.
For makeup, it's the bizarre curl in my fringe and raunchy glittering lips.
—What got you involved in music; where are your roots? And, please tell us why you chose the part of vocalist.
My starting point was the SEX PISTOLS. I learned [music] with the rebellious spirit of punk rock. I decided to sing using my words as my weapon in order to express myself.
—Please offer a message of support to those who are beginning a new life this spring.
The Heisei* world is hell. However, we do not know the true Hell. Please be grateful that you were born into into an era of happiness.
* The current calendar era (as of this writing in 2016) is Heisei.
—Do you have a defining feature?
Affection
—Please tell us what your favorite chocolate is.
JEAN-PAUL HEVIN
—About your interest in toys -- please tell us just about your favorite item.
Along with my life in music, I posses all of the Super Action Statue as well as Statue Legend items, issued by the unchallenged leader, reputable Medicos*, which replicate "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," which I've poured my affection into. If you are in possession of the Swarovski items**, please drop me a line or present them to me right away.***
* Medicos is a toy maker that makes the figure lines Jojo mentions; one is an action figure line, and the other is a high-quality figure line.
** There have been collaboration JJBA figures with Swarovski crystals; it's clear that Jojo doesn't own them and wants them badly. They're very rare and very expensive.
*** This whole response is written in extremely stiff formal writing, typical of Jojo in writing.
—What is THE GALLO to you?
Life
—Lastly, please give a message to the readers of SEVEN.
I cannot stand the exchange of shams sent out by fake music advocates. I would be glad if you would kindly satisfy yourself with the world of THE GALLO's new album "DIAVOLO" and sense the attitude therein of smashing our way through to the future. The world of THE GALLO plunges into a new chapter.
—Please give us commentary for one song from the new full album, "DIAVOLO," released on March 2nd.
"Inma -BELPHEGOR-," in both lyrics and music, is a condensed version of THE GALLO's worldview. Regarding the lyrical content, I'm proud that it's a showpiece that gathers together the flow from "Muma -INCUBUS-" and "Muma -SUCCUBUS-." I'd like it if you would regard it as heresy to love songs.
—Please tell us about something to look for, a story, a scene you're particular about, or something that happened during the shooting of the MVs that were recorded at the same time* -- "Douma -BELIAL-" and "Inma -BELPHEGOR-."
"Douma -BELIAL-": I will sing my last song from the gallows for you, my beloved.
"Inma -BELPHEGOR-": The bedroom in the middle of the night is a utopia and the bed on a moonless night is an amusement park.**
* These were not actually recorded at the same time, as evidenced by the change in members' hair colors and styles. This is the interviewer's mistake, not a translation mistake.
** Both of his answers are lyrics from the respective o
—What is something to look out for at THE GALLO's lives?
Welcome to the foreign brothel, "The Black World."
—Please let us hear about a performance that left an impression on you from the sponsored [tour], "Kyokutou Kuro Shakai Rengou Daisensou," or your thoughts on it.
The bonds of solidarity between [us and] the assisting bands and audiences were an inspiration.
—Please recommend one song for those who haven't heard THE GALLO['s music].
"Muma -INCUBUS" → "DIAVOLO"
—Please tell about the main point of your current clothes and hair/makeup.
For clothes, the overall theme is a glittering surplice over complete blackness.
For makeup, it's the bizarre curl in my fringe and raunchy glittering lips.
—What got you involved in music; where are your roots? And, please tell us why you chose the part of vocalist.
My starting point was the SEX PISTOLS. I learned [music] with the rebellious spirit of punk rock. I decided to sing using my words as my weapon in order to express myself.
—Please offer a message of support to those who are beginning a new life this spring.
The Heisei* world is hell. However, we do not know the true Hell. Please be grateful that you were born into into an era of happiness.
* The current calendar era (as of this writing in 2016) is Heisei.
—Do you have a defining feature?
Affection
—Please tell us what your favorite chocolate is.
JEAN-PAUL HEVIN
—About your interest in toys -- please tell us just about your favorite item.
Along with my life in music, I posses all of the Super Action Statue as well as Statue Legend items, issued by the unchallenged leader, reputable Medicos*, which replicate "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," which I've poured my affection into. If you are in possession of the Swarovski items**, please drop me a line or present them to me right away.***
* Medicos is a toy maker that makes the figure lines Jojo mentions; one is an action figure line, and the other is a high-quality figure line.
** There have been collaboration JJBA figures with Swarovski crystals; it's clear that Jojo doesn't own them and wants them badly. They're very rare and very expensive.
*** This whole response is written in extremely stiff formal writing, typical of Jojo in writing.
—What is THE GALLO to you?
Life
—Lastly, please give a message to the readers of SEVEN.
I cannot stand the exchange of shams sent out by fake music advocates. I would be glad if you would kindly satisfy yourself with the world of THE GALLO's new album "DIAVOLO" and sense the attitude therein of smashing our way through to the future. The world of THE GALLO plunges into a new chapter.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Gokuma -ASTAROTH-
Lyrics: Jojo
Music: Kaede
From DIAVOLO
ENGLISH
The devil rolls with laughter over the demise of the Empire of Japan1
God help me2
In a prison filled with stench an atrocious criminal is confined and keeps waiting for execution
Opening the iron door to No. 133, I wore a black hood and recited the nenbutsu4 Creaking up to the 13th floor, I'm cursed with glory from the gallows
Between the truth and the lies I kill my emotions and writhe I leave my hatred in my final5 excretion and head to hell
The devil rolls with laughter over the demise of the Empire of Japan
God help me
Opening the iron door to No. 13, I wore a black hood and recited the nenbutsu Creaking up to the 13th floor, I'm cursed with glory from the gallows
Between the truth and the lies I kill my emotions and writhe I leave my hatred in my final excretion and head to hell
God help me
In a coffin filled with madness the devil beckons me to hell ruled by darkness
1 The name of Japan before World War II. This line sets the song after the war.
2 The original phrase is Namu Amida Butsu, which is a mantra called the "Nenbutsu" and is from the Pure Land Sect of Japanese Buddhism. The belief is that one only has to utter it before death to enter the Pure Land -- heaven, in a nutshell.
3 This refers to a train and evokes imagery used in "Gokusaishiki Maressha-GA110-," which is about a train that carries people to hell. Jojo uses the ominous number 13 in several songs as an age, floor, address, and date (in "BOUTIQUE BEELZEBUB," "Akai Piano Sen," "Ijin Shoufukan Juusankai ・ Keshoushitsu" and "Koushudai," and "Yokohama Akasen Chitai Renzoku Ryouki Satsujin Jiken," respectively).
4 As mentioned, the "Nenbutsu" is the name of the phrase uttered to get into heaven.
5 The word "final" used here refers end of life. This line is surely referencing voiding one's bowels upon dying.
大日本帝國の終焉を悪魔が腹を抱えて嗤います
南無阿弥陀仏
異臭が充満した牢獄に凶悪な罪人が幽閉されて処刑を待ち続ける
拾参号鉄扉を開いて黒頭巾を被り念仏を唱えた 拾参階段が軋み上がり絞首台から栄光を呪いました
真実と虚偽の狭間で感情を殺して藻掻く 最期の排泄に憎悪を託して魔界へ向かう
大日本帝國の終焉を悪魔が腹を抱えて嗤います
南無阿弥陀仏
拾参号鉄扉を開いて黒頭巾を被り念仏を唱えた 拾参階段が軋み上がり絞首台から栄光を呪いました
真実と虚偽の狭間で感情を殺して藻掻く 最期の排泄に憎悪を託して魔界へ向かう
南無阿弥陀仏
狂気が充満した棺桶で悪魔が暗黒に支配された魔界へ手招きする
Music: Kaede
From DIAVOLO
ENGLISH
Torment Demon -ASTAROTH-
Translation: Ku
The devil rolls with laughter over the demise of the Empire of Japan1
God help me2
In a prison filled with stench an atrocious criminal is confined and keeps waiting for execution
Opening the iron door to No. 133, I wore a black hood and recited the nenbutsu4 Creaking up to the 13th floor, I'm cursed with glory from the gallows
Between the truth and the lies I kill my emotions and writhe I leave my hatred in my final5 excretion and head to hell
The devil rolls with laughter over the demise of the Empire of Japan
God help me
Opening the iron door to No. 13, I wore a black hood and recited the nenbutsu Creaking up to the 13th floor, I'm cursed with glory from the gallows
Between the truth and the lies I kill my emotions and writhe I leave my hatred in my final excretion and head to hell
God help me
In a coffin filled with madness the devil beckons me to hell ruled by darkness
1 The name of Japan before World War II. This line sets the song after the war.
2 The original phrase is Namu Amida Butsu, which is a mantra called the "Nenbutsu" and is from the Pure Land Sect of Japanese Buddhism. The belief is that one only has to utter it before death to enter the Pure Land -- heaven, in a nutshell.
3 This refers to a train and evokes imagery used in "Gokusaishiki Maressha-GA110-," which is about a train that carries people to hell. Jojo uses the ominous number 13 in several songs as an age, floor, address, and date (in "BOUTIQUE BEELZEBUB," "Akai Piano Sen," "Ijin Shoufukan Juusankai ・ Keshoushitsu" and "Koushudai," and "Yokohama Akasen Chitai Renzoku Ryouki Satsujin Jiken," respectively).
4 As mentioned, the "Nenbutsu" is the name of the phrase uttered to get into heaven.
5 The word "final" used here refers end of life. This line is surely referencing voiding one's bowels upon dying.
ROMAJI
Gokuma -ASTAROTH-
Romanization: Ku
Dainippon teikoku no shuuen wo akuma ga hara wo kakaete waraimasu
Namu Amida Butsu
Ishuu ga juuman shita rougoku ni kyouaku na zainin ga yuuhei sarete shokei wo machitsuzukeru
Juusan goutetsu tobira wo hiraite kurozukin wo kaburi nenbutsu wo tonaeta Juusan kaidan ga kishimi agari kubitsuridai kara eikou wo noroimashita
Shinjitsu to itsuwari no hazama de kanjou wo koroshite mogaku Saigo no haisetsu ni nikushimi wo takushite makai e mukau
Dainippon teikoku no shuuen wo akuma ga hara wo kakaete waraimasu
Namu Amida Butsu
Juusan goutetsu tobira wo hiraite kurozukin wo kaburi nenbutsu wo tonaeta Juusan kaidan ga kishimi agari kubitsuridai kara eikou wo noroimashita
Shinjitsu to itsuwari no hazama de kanjou wo koroshite mogaku Saigo no haisetsu ni nikushimi wo takushite makai e mukau
Namu Amida Butsu
Kyouki ga juuman shita kan'oke de akuma ga ankoku ni shihai sareta makai e temaneki suru
Namu Amida Butsu
Ishuu ga juuman shita rougoku ni kyouaku na zainin ga yuuhei sarete shokei wo machitsuzukeru
Juusan goutetsu tobira wo hiraite kurozukin wo kaburi nenbutsu wo tonaeta Juusan kaidan ga kishimi agari kubitsuridai kara eikou wo noroimashita
Shinjitsu to itsuwari no hazama de kanjou wo koroshite mogaku Saigo no haisetsu ni nikushimi wo takushite makai e mukau
Dainippon teikoku no shuuen wo akuma ga hara wo kakaete waraimasu
Namu Amida Butsu
Juusan goutetsu tobira wo hiraite kurozukin wo kaburi nenbutsu wo tonaeta Juusan kaidan ga kishimi agari kubitsuridai kara eikou wo noroimashita
Shinjitsu to itsuwari no hazama de kanjou wo koroshite mogaku Saigo no haisetsu ni nikushimi wo takushite makai e mukau
Namu Amida Butsu
Kyouki ga juuman shita kan'oke de akuma ga ankoku ni shihai sareta makai e temaneki suru
JAPANESE
獄魔-ASTAROTH-
Transcription: Ku
大日本帝國の終焉を悪魔が腹を抱えて嗤います
南無阿弥陀仏
異臭が充満した牢獄に凶悪な罪人が幽閉されて処刑を待ち続ける
拾参号鉄扉を開いて黒頭巾を被り念仏を唱えた 拾参階段が軋み上がり絞首台から栄光を呪いました
真実と虚偽の狭間で感情を殺して藻掻く 最期の排泄に憎悪を託して魔界へ向かう
大日本帝國の終焉を悪魔が腹を抱えて嗤います
南無阿弥陀仏
拾参号鉄扉を開いて黒頭巾を被り念仏を唱えた 拾参階段が軋み上がり絞首台から栄光を呪いました
真実と虚偽の狭間で感情を殺して藻掻く 最期の排泄に憎悪を託して魔界へ向かう
南無阿弥陀仏
狂気が充満した棺桶で悪魔が暗黒に支配された魔界へ手招きする
Senma -ZIZ-
Translation: Ku
Massacre Demon -ZIZ-
I send a rebel requiem to the grave markers in the starry sky
The humans who lost the war1 and drowned in fake peace look down and laugh
The humans who forgot their scars and believed in fake peace point and laugh
I hand the death penalty to depraved traitors
I realize that it's not worth protecting the humans who are betrayed by society and lay their blame, and I slaughter them
The humans who lost the war and drowned in fake peace look down and laugh
My war buddies are burning to death2 The enemy soldiers are burning to death Lives are burning to death
I realize that it's not worth protecting the humans who are betrayed by society and lay their blame, and I slaughter them
I spread my wings; unable to fly, I'll keep searching for my excuse for being born and a reason to fight
1 Almost certainly referring to WWII, and thus the Japanese people in general. The "fake peace" may be referencing the Occupation by US soldiers.
2 The verb pattern here is something Jojo has been using a lot in lyrics lately. The Japanese phrasing he uses would normally be used for a verb that has happened and is still in progress. However, he's used a select kanji in here where kanji should not be used, and though the reading is the same, the meaning is "to die." It's a bit of a double entendre, and I've tried to reflect that in English.
Jojo also has a preoccupation with people "burning" in his war lyrics; for context, consider that in WWII mainland Japan saw more firebombings than ground warfare.
Romanization: Ku
Senma -ZIZ-
Hoshizora no bohyou ni hangyaku no rekuiemu wo okurimasu
Sensou ni makete nisemono no heiwa ni oboreta ningen ga mikudashite warau
Kizuato wo wasurete nisemono no heiwa wo shinjita ningenga yubisashite warau
Daraku shita uragirimono ni shikei wo tsugeru
Shakai ni uragirarete sekinin wo nasuri tsukeru ningen ni mamoru kachi ga nai koto wo sadori zansatsu suru
Sensou ni makete nisemono no heiwa ni oboreta ningen ga mikudashite warau
Tomo ga moete yuku Teki ga moete yuku Inochi ga moete yuku
Shakai ni uragirarete sekinin wo nasuri tsukeru ningen ni mamoru kachi ga nai koto wo sadori zansatsu
Boku wa tsubasa wo hirogete habataku koto mo dekizu ni umare ochita iiwake to tatakau imi wo sagashi tsuzukeru
Transcription: Ku
殲魔-ZIZ-
星空の墓標に叛逆の鎮魂歌を贈ります
戦争に負けて贋物の平和に溺れた人間が見下して嗤う
傷痕を忘れて贋物の平和を信じた人間が指差して嗤う
堕落した裏切者に死刑を告げる
社会に裏切られて責任を擦り付ける人間に護る価値が無い事を悟り惨殺する
戦争に負けて贋物の平和に溺れた人間が見下して嗤う
戦友が燃えて逝く 敵兵が燃えて逝く 生命が燃えて逝く
社会に裏切られて責任を擦り付ける人間に護る価値が無い事を悟り惨殺する
僕は翼を広げて羽撃く事も出来ずに生まれ落ちた言訳と闘う意味を探し続ける
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